Celeb gardeners' greatest gardening challenges

Wilf NichollsSt. John’sDirector, Botanical Garden, Memorial University of NewfoundlandTime. My home garden is currently a utilitarian playground for two dogs and a great disappointment to my neighbours, who, given my profession, harboured such high hopes. When I retire many years from now, I promise to dedicate more time to the yard to make my wife and the neighbours proud.

Charlie DobbinRichmond Hill, Ont.Owner, Garden Solutions by Charlie DobbinMy super-hot, sunny front yard, which doubles as a basketball court. This combined function has taught me what will survive the acid test of boys and balls. Junipers, roses and geraniums take an amazing amount of abuse, but it’s the spiky yuccas that really take the prize.

Alexander RefordGrand-Métis, Que.Director, The Reford GardensKeeping a classic public garden progressive. Our challenge is to continually find new ways to surprise and inspire increasingly more knowledgeable visitors with leading-edge plants, colours, combinations and design.

Jim HoleSt. Albert, Alta.Co-owner, Hole’s GreenhousesCompromise. I can’t resist bringing ailing and underperforming plants home from the nursery in order to observe their growth habits. It’s a great learning opportunity, but it certainly makes the aesthetics of our garden go down the tubes. My wife, who would dearly love a pretty garden, is not amused.

Des KennedyDenman Island, B.C.AuthorComing to terms with the fact that no matter how long and hard one works, or how dutifully one peruses the manuals, takes courses from the masters and visits great gardens far and wide, one remains little more than a gardening novice with a very, very long way still to go.